The Zach Lowe Show – "Another Year, Another James Harden Trade, Plus a Slew of Other Trades"
Date: February 4, 2026
Guests: Zach Lowe (Host, The Ringer) & Bobby Marks (Front Office Analyst, ESPN)
Main Theme
A packed NBA trade deadline preview as Zach and Bobby break down an avalanche of trades across the league, led by the shocking James Harden-to-Cleveland blockbuster. They analyze motivations, cap mechanics, and long-term implications for contenders and rebuilding squads alike, offering detailed insight and debate on what the moves mean for the league's present and future.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. James Harden Traded from Clippers to Cavaliers
[Starting at 03:00]
- Details:
- Cavaliers receive: James Harden
- Clippers receive: Darius Garland, second-round pick
- Contract Nuances:
- Mutually assured destruction contract: Harden’s 1+1 with a partial guarantee, signaling neither long-term commitment nor long-term happiness.
- Harden had to waive bird rights and forgo most of his $2.3M trade bonus due to cap mechanics with Cleveland as a ‘second apron’ team.
- Why Both Sides Made the Move:
- No long-term commitment from Clippers; rational, non-dramatic resolution acknowledging lack of true contention.
- Clippers get a creative, younger guard (Garland) under contract, preserving summer 2027 cap flexibility.
- Cavs get a proven, playoff-durable star in Harden to bolster their urgent win-now push and ease pressure on Donovan Mitchell.
Quote:
“I'm really starting to just enjoy how cold and brazen and mercenary [Harden] is. [...] He’s the one player who's like, ‘They treat us like assets. Well, I’m prepared to break some shit on my way out the door.’”
— Zach Lowe (11:20)
- Vote of No Confidence in Garland:
- Surprising urgency from Cleveland suggests deep worries about Garland’s health, big-game play, or overall Mitchell-Garland fit.
- “This is an astonishing vote of no confidence in Darius Garland... or his fit with Donovan Mitchell, or all three.”
— Zach Lowe (08:30)
- Clippers' Perspective:
- "No brainer" given Garland’s youth and on-court creativity, even with injury risks.
Notable Segment:
Cavs' Playoff Pressure after Trade (13:49—15:30) – Discussion of heightened expectations, Harden’s playoff record, and whether Cleveland is risking too much for a narrow window.
Memorable Moment:
Harden “legacy” discussion as the NBA’s perennial trade catalyst, with Zach floating a tongue-in-cheek “deep conspiracy” about the Harden mega-trades coordinating to benefit certain franchises.
(See: “If he’s not paid the way he wants... he’s gonna move on. But it has been interesting to just see how many times he’s moved.” [18:30])
2. Utah Jazz Acquire Jaren Jackson Jr. from Memphis
[32:50]
- Trade Package:
- Jazz receive: Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, Vince Williams, John Konchar
- Grizzlies receive: Walter Clayton Jr, Taylor Hendricks, three first-round picks (notably a 2031 unprotected Phoenix pick)
- Analysis:
- Utah cashes in final chips from former Gobert/Mitchell trade bounty, using cap space on a contract-extended JJJ.
- Move possible only because of last summer’s JJJ extension and the acquisition of the 2031 Suns pick.
- Utah’s Motivation:
- “They were going to have cap space—who are you using it on? The free agent market’s dominated by old players.”
— Bobby Marks (35:11) - Core plan: Pair a still-young JJJ with Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and developing talent (Keonte George, Ace Bailey et al.)
- “They were going to have cap space—who are you using it on? The free agent market’s dominated by old players.”
- Caveats:
- JJJ’s flaws (rebounding, fouling) and lack of high-end playmaking on the roster.
- Jazz now likely capped at “very good but maybe not great.”
- “Is this going to be a championship team in the next five years in the West? I have a hard time seeing that from here, but that’s also OK.” — Zach Lowe (39:34)
- Grizzlies’ Perspective:
- Recognizing that the Ja Morant-GG Jackson-Desmond Bane trio’s window slammed shut due to injuries and the Ja situation.
- Grizz get a significant pick haul while avoiding potentially being “in jail” with JJJ’s $50M/yr extension if his game plateaus.
3. Celtics-Bulls Trade: Simons and Picks for Vucevic
[49:03]
- Details:
- Celtics receive: Nikola Vucevic, lesser second-round pick
- Bulls receive: Anfernee Simons, better second-round pick
- Boston’s Logic:
- Needed more frontline size after frontcourt got bullied (esp. vs. Detroit/Jalen Duren).
- Big luxury tax savings; slip under the apron for flexibility in buyout season.
- “If Tatum comes back, Simons is expendable. If he doesn’t, we’re not winning it all anyway, so save some money.” (53:40)
- Vucevic as a backup five, not replacing Keita as starter.
- Chicago’s Outlook:
- Bulls “bought as high as you possibly could on Vuce” and “sold as low as you could.”
- Future moves likely — Bulls have a glut of guards, and more trades expected.
- Notable Quote:
“It’s just as flat out not a great series of transactions.”
— Zach Lowe (56:43)
4. Minor Three-Team Deal: Bulls, Pistons, Wolves
[59:37]
Trade Structure:
- Bulls receive: Jaden Ivey, Mike Conley (likely buyout)
- Pistons receive: Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric, 2026 pick swap (with Wolves, could jump from #29 to #23)
- Wolves receive: Cash
Analysis:
- Detroit’s Perspective:
- Zach points out some disappointment in the return for Ivey, a former #5 overall pick, boiling down to Huerter and a better pick swap.
- Huerter viewed as a “tool in the toolbox” for the postseason. Playoff performance checkered but complementary on offense and adequate on defense.
- Bulls’ Perspective:
- Buying low on Ivey makes sense for a team retooling; “worth a flyer as long as you don’t go crazy paying him.”
- Zach and Bobby expect the Bulls to move one or more guards soon.
- Minnesota’s Angle:
- Big question about their motives—possibly linked to saving money, cap flexibility, and rumored interest in pursuing Giannis.
- Wolves get under the apron, which increases trade options.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Chatter
[67:19]
- Timberwolves, Warriors, Heat, Knicks mentioned as possible destinations.
- Minnesota’s path is “unclear”—lack of picks, would have to include Jaden McDaniels and others.
- For Warriors: “Pick what you want outside of Curry; here you go.”
- Big caveat everywhere is asset match, willingness to wait for summer for more suitors, and Giannis’ extension amount and injury status.
Quote:
“That is a big commitment and you better make sure you’ve got some other things left on your roster.”
— Bobby Marks on the risks of trading for Giannis (77:44)
Notable Segment:
Zach and Bobby muse on wild scenarios ("Draft Day" references), lamenting “top 5 most inexplicable contracts” (Jakob Poeltl, Toronto).
6. Trade Deadline & Team Outlooks (Short Notes on Other Deals & Rumors)
- Orlando, Cleveland, New York, Philly all touched on as possible Giannis or wildcard destinations.
- Many contending or “funky” teams seen as having major “something isn’t right” issues that could prompt more trades either now or during the summer.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Harden's transactional history:
“Leaving chaos in his wake at every stop… It’s been money, happiness, mostly money every single time with some hiccups along the way.”
— Zach Lowe (18:32) - On Utah’s ‘blue chippers’:
“You can keep spinning the wheel drafting… Eventually one of these guys is going to have to hit, right?”
— Bobby Marks (35:28) - On Bulls’ moves:
“It’s been a half decade for the Bulls.”
— Zach Lowe (56:52) - Nerdy Detour:
Lowe wonders if a triple-double should count as multiple double-doubles:
“Should a triple-double count as two double-doubles? Are they separate things?”
— Zach Lowe (58:22)
Important Timestamps
- [03:00] Harden to Cavaliers trade breakdown
- [13:49] Cavaliers' fit: Harden + Mitchell
- [18:18] Harden’s “legacy” & trade satellite view
- [32:50] Jazz land Jaren Jackson Jr. – full context
- [49:03] Celtics-Bulls big man trade logic
- [59:37] Bulls-Pistons-Wolves minor deal—value and rumors
- [67:19] Wolves cap machinations—Giannis pursuit, possible summer fireworks
- [74:04] Giannis suitors—Warriors, Knicks, others; pitfalls and plausibilities
Overall Tone & Style
Fast-moving, detail-rich, at times punchy and self-aware, with Zach and Bobby riffing, debating, and indulging in occasional cap-related minutia, nerdy observations, and NBA existential musings. Adds humor and humility to deep front office analysis, all with a brisk, accessible cadence.
Takeaways for Non-listeners
- James Harden defines chaos and opportunity at the trade deadline, as the league continues its cycle of star movement and creative cap management.
- Utah and Memphis signal philosophical shifts—Utah says goodbye to the tank, Memphis waves the white flag on the Ja Morant era’s potential.
- Celtics plug a need and save cash, Bulls shuffle the deck, and every move sets the stage for more—especially with perennial rumors around Giannis.
- The NBA’s middle and upper tiers are restless, ultra-risk-tolerant, and always plotting their next move, with this year’s trade deadline as a microcosm of how win-now pressure, cap science, and player empowerment have reshaped the league.